Up until 2020, not many educators or students had direct experience with live online instruction, but once COVID arrived, everyone did. Was this just a passing phase? Amy and Mike invited educator Adam Snoza to explore why remote tutoring is here to stay. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is online tutoring here to stay, even post-pandemic? What are the benefits of online tutoring over in-person? How do you maintain engagement in one on one tutoring and group classes online?  What tech tools make a difference in online instruction? In what instances is in-person instruction still more advantageous? MEET OUR GUEST Adam Snoza graduated from Creighton University and was a high school English teacher for 9 years in both public and private schools. He has spent 13 years in ACT test prep with Aim High Test Prep in Omaha, NE, where he is the president, lead instructor, and curriculum developer, authoring his own 350-page instructional manual. Adam is also an ACT Certified Educator (ACE) in all 6 certification areas: Basics, English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. Now, he is a trainer of the ACE program and works with teachers and tutors across the country on how to effectively teach the ACT test. In addition, Adam co-authored the 2021 update to The Official ACT Mathematics Guide. Though every student he helps gain a life-changing scholarship or entry into an elite college gives him great satisfaction, his greatest pride comes from working with multiple local charities to bring test prep to underserved populations in an effort to bridge the education gap. Adam previously appeared on this podcast in episode 159 to discuss ACT Math Reporting Categories and episode 249 for a Test Prep Profile. Find Adam at aimhightestprep.com. LINKS Face To Face or Facetime? Consider Online Tutoring RELATED EPISODES MAKING ONLINE TUTORING MATTER MORE COLLEGE ADVISING AND PREP BY VIDEOCONFERENCE HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF ONLINE TEST PREP ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast

298. WHY REMOTE TUTORING IS HERE TO STAY

Many families envision scholarships as a substantial contributor to an expensive college education. Yet surprisingly few have any experience actually getting those awards. Mike and Amy invited educational consultant Sherri Graf to point out common catastrophic mistakes in scholarship applications. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does every successful scholarship application begin with following instructions? Does good writing make a difference in scholarship applications? Is there a benefit to providing more information than requested? What other elements of a scholarship application need to be respected? What mistakes should students avoid after an application is submitted or awarded? MEET OUR GUEST Sherri Graf is an education consultant, author, software application developer, speaker, and CEO of Imagine Scholarships. When Sherri waded through the college admissions process with her own children and the hundreds she has mentored over the last decade, she saw an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the world. With a degree in communications and a background in education, she was equipped for the task at hand. Powered by her love for young adults and a passion for helping others, she created Imagine Scholarships.  Sherri now wears the nickname "collegeprenuer" proudly. Since 2010 she has worked with students of all ages and their families to help them achieve their educational goals and find the money to do it. As a first-generation student herself, she knows the power of earning scholarships to help educational dreams come true. The passion behind the company is her desire to help others achieve their full potential and the belief that with a guiding hand, anyone can create a positive future for themselves.  Sherri has a knack for writing and loves TED Talks. With her 4 beautiful children, the right 80s tunes, and her beloved golden-doodle, Sherri is determined to empower the next generation to find their place in the world and have access to the funds needed to help them achieve those goals. Find Sherri at https://www.imaginescholarships.com. LINKS Tips From Scholarship Committee Experts Celebrate You Scholarship RELATED EPISODES HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT? LESSONS LEARNED BY OFFERING A SCHOLARSHIP ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

297. COMMON MISTAKES IN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

The Talmud teaches that a timid person cannot learn. While well-intentioned adults might negotiate obstacles and opportunities for teens, the most successful students are usually the ones who learn to stand up for themselves. Amy and Mike invited educator Barak Moore to explore the importance of self-advocacy in education and admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does self-advocacy mean in the context of an educational environment? What are examples of how students advocate for themselves in admissions decisions? Why do students struggle to stand up for themselves or ask for what they need? What makes student self-advocacy so powerful? How do we teach children to advocate for themselves? MEET OUR GUEST Barak Moore has been a professional SAT and ACT tutor for more than three decades. He is a graduate of Princeton University, and was formerly the Director of the Princeton Review of NJ. He has been a consultant to leading educational organizations such as McGraw-Hill, the United Nations, IBM, the New York City Board of Education, the Marine Corps, and the World Bank Find Barak Moore at facebook.com/baraktutor LINKS Advocating For Your Rights On Test Day Cultivating Self-Advocacy for All Students on College Campuses Speak for Yourself! The Importance of Self-Advocacy RELATED EPISODES ADVOCACY FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN THE COLLEGE PROCESS HELPING TEENS FIND MOTIVATION AND INSIGHT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

296. SELF-ADVOCACY IN EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS

Inequitable access to high-quality education harms all of us in society, particularly the least advantaged among us. Yet some efforts to mitigate the advantages of wealth and privilege in admissions may inadvertently do the exact opposite. Amy and Mike invited researcher Adam Tyner to explore whether eliminating tests makes education more or less equitable. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the origins of anti-test sentiment in modern American education? Why are some public university systems phasing out college admissions tests? What does the research tell us about inequity in the college admissions process? Are tests the only indicators of socioeconomic inequality? If tests are phased out of the application process, is inequity eliminated? MEET OUR GUEST Adam Tyner is National Research Director at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, where he helps develop and manage Fordham’s research projects. Prior to joining Fordham, he served as senior education analyst at Hanover Research, where he executed data analysis projects and worked with school districts and other education stakeholders to design custom studies.  Adam has also spent several years leading classrooms, teaching English as a second language in both China and California and teaching courses at the University of California, San Diego. His work has appeared and been cited in national and international media such as The Economist, The New York Times, Forbes, Education Week, Education Next, and The Diplomat, as well as in numerous local outlets. Adam holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego, where he completed his doctoral dissertation on the integration of rural-to-urban migrant workers in China’s cities. He also holds a bachelor of arts in international studies from the University of Oklahoma. Adam first appeared on the show in episode #140 to discuss Social Studies Instruction and Reading Comprehension. Find Adam at fordhaminstitute.org. LINKS Would eliminating college admissions tests really make education more equitable? Essay Content is Strongly Related to Household Income and SAT Scores: Evidence from 60,000 Undergraduate Application The Education Gadfly Show Podcast RELATED EPISODES FIVE MYTHS ABOUT ADMISSIONS TESTS HOW SAT AND ACT SCORES HIGHLIGHT EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY DON"T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US DO TEST-OPTIONAL POLICIES DRIVE EQUITY? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

295. WOULD ELIMINATING TESTS MAKE EDUCATION MORE EQUITABLE?

Some states find innovative and generous ways to support higher education for their residents, and Florida is one of them. As the first of what will be an ongoing series on state scholarships, Mike and Amy invited educational consultant Carrie Bedard and educator Jason Robinovitz to discuss the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships? How much can these scholarships amount to? Are these scholarships only open to Florida residents? What are the general requirements for Bright Futures? What should aspiring scholarship applicants know in advance? MEET OUR GUESTS Carrie Bedard and Jason Robinovitz are the moderators of the Bright Futures Scholarship Parent page on Facebook. Carrie Bedard of Soar 2 Success Consulting graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Hospitality and a Minor in Psychology. She has worked in education throughout her career, including teaching, tutoring and personal essay development. She has an extensive background in Marketing and Public Speaking, which she uses to help her students to become the best they can be to achieve their goals. In 2012, she decided to make helping students a full time venture, after seeing parents had no idea how to guide their students in the college guidance and admissions process and guidance counselors were over worked with hundreds of students and couldn't give the 1-1 attention necessary to properly guide students. She has traveled and met with college admissions staff, joined the Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors, and worked with over 100 families around the globe. Carrie first appeared on this podcast in episode 50 to discuss Utilizing A Reflection Journal To Prepare For Your College Essay. Find Carrie at cbedardfl@yahoo.com. Jason Robinovitz is the Chief Operating Officer of all Score At The Top Learning Centers. Jason oversees each Center’s day-to-day operations, ensuring the delivery of top quality educational support and guidance services to client families. As team leader for a staff of more than 100 educators, Jason is in charge of strategic decision-making, including best practice policies, customer service, staffing, training, marketing, systems, and technology. Jason is also involved in educational consulting services for college, boarding school, and law school clients. Meeting with students, Jason specializes in directing pre-law and future law-school students toward the extracurricular activities that will help position them for success. Skillfully guiding them through the application and essay process, Jason helps students distinguish themselves from the rest of the applicant pool. He also works with families seeking therapeutic placements for their children, identifying the “best fit” schools and programs for them and interfacing with these schools and programs to ensure successful placements. Jason is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. As an active member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Secondary School Admission Test Board, Robinovitz is part of a professional network of admission directors, educators, psychologists and other educational consultants. Jason first appeared on this podcast in episode 20 to discuss Therapeutic Schools and Teens In Crisis. Find Jason at jason@scoreatthetop.com. LINKS Florida Financial Aid Application Florida Bright Futures Program Details RELATED EPISODES HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT? ATTENDING A LARGE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

294. FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP

The economic benefits of a college degree are not just to individual learners but entire towns, counties, states, and countries as a whole. So why don’t we as a society invest in higher education attainment more directly? Amy and Mike invited author Morley Winograd to make the compelling case for tuition-free college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What economic benefits accrue from access to tuition-free two- and four-year college? What are the potential downsides of access to tuition-free college? What is the public take on the issue of tuition-free college What are the current political realities for making college free in 2022? How has free college impacted higher education enrollment in states that have implemented it? MEET OUR GUEST Morley Winograd is a nationally known expert on the Millennial generation. He is co-author (with Mike Hais) of three highly acclaimed books, Millennial Momentum (2011), Millennial Makeover (2008), and Millennial Majority (2013) on the impact the generation will have on America’s future. He served as senior policy advisor to Vice President Al Gore during the second term of the Clinton administration and directed its reinventing government efforts.  The Campaign for Free College Tuition (CFCT) is an inter-generational coalition who believe today's economy requires the country to make higher education affordable for everyone if we are going to have a workforce with the skills needed for us to compete in the global marketplace. Established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2014, CFCT has been at the forefront of the free college tuition movement since its inception. Find Morley at morley@freecollegenow.org. LINKS The Campaign for Free College Tuition Morley Winograd’s books The Power of College: Economic and Personal Benefits of a College Education How do college graduates benefit society at large? Lifetime Income Distribution Estimates by College Major RELATED EPISODES ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD THE TRUTH ABOUT STUDENT LOAN DEBT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

293. THE CASE FOR TUITION-FREE COLLEGE

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Parke Muth, who has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of that time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admissions office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focuses on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year. While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He’s been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students. Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4,000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Parke previously appeared on this podcast in episodes 81 (You Can’t Handle The Truth: Secrets Of College Admissions) and 148 (Stop Making $En$E: The International Student Problem). Find Parke at parkemuth@gmail.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

292. IEC PROFILE: Parke Muth

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Sandy Andolsek, an Independent College Counselor who spent her career in the field of College Admissions since 1991. Her extensive experience in both the private and public college sector allows her to serve students and families with a comprehensive understanding of the college application process. She is well versed in the complexities that may sometimes overwhelm many embarking on this journey. Sandy is committed to providing individualized guidance to students and families as they navigate through the college admission process. She remains current in the field in order to guide and ultimately help find a college that meets the needs of each student. Sandy holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her progressive experience in the profession has included her position(s) as the Associate Director of Admissions at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Buffalo, Assistant Director of Admissions at Manhattanville College, and as an Admissions Counselor at Monroe Community College. She is a current member of NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling). Find Sandy at https://www.theroadaheadcollegeconsulting.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

291. IEC PROFILE: Sandy Andolsek

When a test as influential and controversial as the SAT faces a new iteration, people take notice. But when that same test will be administered in an entirely new format that leaves the classic #2 pencil behind, people start to lose their minds. Amy and Mike invited educator Brooke Hanson to help unpack First Thoughts About The New Digital SAT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What did the College Board say about a new digital SAT? What is the projected timeline for the new test? What is an adaptive test anyway, and why does this matter? What does ACT’s digital format experience have to do with this? How does this announcement impact current high schoolers? Brooke Hanson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and Kansas City, graduated from Stanford University with honors, and holds an MFA in Cinematic Arts Production from the University of Southern California. After spending over a decade juggling a career in Hollywood with her tutoring and test prep work, Brooke founded Supertutor Media to make college admissions and test prep more accessible and engaging. Her YouTube channel SupertutorTV now boasts over 20 million views and 230K subscribers. She’s been featured on CNN, US News and World Report, Teen Vogue, and Yahoo! Finance. Brooke has also written two ACT® math books and developed comprehensive online video-based prep courses for both the SAT and ACT.  Brooke previously appeared on this podcast in episode 213 to discuss Test Prep YouTube. Find Brooke at supertutortv.com or subscribe to her YouTube (youtube.com/supertutortv). LINKS Digital SAT Suite: Resources The SAT admission test is going digital and getting shorter The New Digital SAT RELATED EPISODES COMPARING PAPER- AND COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ACT SUPERSCORING AND SECTION RETESTING SUCCESS IN COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

290. FIRST THOUGHTS ON THE NEW DIGITAL SAT

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Alan Sheptin, owner of Sheptin Tutoring Group (STG). Alan has been a professional member of IECA since 2017 and became a Certified Educational Planner in 2020. He earned a BA in Computer Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA in Finance from Fordham University and a Certificate in College Consulting from UCLA. Prior to establishing his company in 2007, Alan was an Assistant Vice President and Actuary with AXA, specializing in actuarial product development and management. He attained Associateship in the Society of Actuaries with several exams completed towards Fellowship. In addition to his college consulting expertise, Alan is a respected Mathematics tutor, successfully working with students in all levels of Math. He is most sought out for his expertise in Algebra II, Precalculus, and Calculus. He teaches both Precalculus and Calculus at Iona College. He has also undertaken long-term consulting assignments teaching BC Calculus and Pre-Calculus at John Jay and Fox Lane High Schools in Westchester County. Alan first became interested in college admissions when he was the NYC Secondary School Chairman of Alumni Interviewing for the University of Pennsylvania, training alumni interviewers and serving as a liaison between Penn’s admission office, interviewers and prospective freshmen. He has leveraged this expertise, plus his extensive knowledge of US and international colleges and universities, to counsel students on the optimal admissions strategy. To date, he has visited over 130 colleges and universities in seven countries. Alan’s “alumni” are present at all of the top 50 US universities and colleges, as well as at universities in the UK and Canada. Additionally, Alan has been preparing students for the SAT and ACT examinations for 30 years. He is widely respected for his in-depth expertise in maximizing test scores, as well as his ability to make intrinsically difficult concepts in all areas of Mathematics (from pre-Algebra through Calculus) easier to grasp. Many of Alan’s students have continued to work with him in college classes and as they prep for the GRE and GMAT exams. He and his outstanding team of 35 teachers and tutors can offer support in any academic area in middle or high school. He is constantly revamping materials and lessons to ensure that his students are receiving the most recent information about exams. Sheptin Tutoring Group maintains offices in Chappaqua, New York and New York City. Its clients come from as close as the tri-state area to as far away as China, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. Find Alan at 914-232-3743 or alan@sheptin.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

289. IEC PROFILE: Alan Sheptin

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kristina L. Dooley, a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) and founder of Estrela Consulting, an Ohio-based independent educational consulting firm. Kristina has more than 20 years of experience working with students from around the world navigating the complex college and school search processes. Prior to launching Estrela Consulting in 2008, Kristina served as the Assistant Director of Admission at Hiram College (OH) and as the Director of Admission and Marketing at Andrews Osborne Academy (OH). A first-generation college student, she is a graduate of Hiram College (B.A.) and Kent State University (M.A.). In addition to her work with students, Kristina is an instructor for the University of California Irvine teaching College Consulting Resources and also serves as a faculty member of the IECA Summer Training Institute for aspiring educational consultants. An expert in her field, Kristina has contributed to several websites, books, and magazines on education-related topics. A sought after speaker, Kristina presents at conferences around the country each year. Kristina is the President of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and holds membership in AICEP, NACAC, HECA, and the Ohio and International Associations for College Admission Counseling (OACAC & IACAC). In addition, Kristina is a member of the Hiram College Board of Visitors and the IECA Foundation Board. She has served on Admission Advisory Boards at several institutions including Lehigh University, Lynn University, and Washington and Jefferson College. In her free time, Kristina volunteers for Beyond Type 1 and JDRF and serves as a mentor for College Now Greater Cleveland. She resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband and their 10-year-old triplets. Kristina previously appeared on this podcast in episode 183 to discuss The Role Of Parents In The College Process. Find Kristina at http://www.estrelaconsulting.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

288. IEC PROFILE: Kristina Dooley

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Zach Galin, who has spent over a decade working independently with students and families in the college admissions process. From test preparation to college matching, applications, and financial aid, Zach has helped students gain acceptance to their top-choice schools. Zach spent his undergraduate years at Northwestern University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Learning and Organizational Change. He was actively engaged in student government, Greek life, cultural affairs, and community service. Upon graduation, he ran an academic tutoring and test prep center on New York City’s upper west side. He worked with hundreds of families to diagnose students’ specific academic deficiencies and develop courses from a variety of text-based and digital curricula to improve their skills. Zach was then accepted into Teach for America and taught science, test-taking strategies, and organizational skills in a middle/high school in the South Bronx. While a corps member, he received his master's degree in education from New York City’s Bank Street College of Education. Zach previously served on Hillel’s International Board of Directors, Bank Street College’s Board of Trustees, and the Madison Jewish Community Day School Board of Directors. He currently serves as the chair of the Camp Shalom (Verona, WI) committee, as a member of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Foundation board, and as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Madison. Find Zach at zach@galined.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

287. IEC PROFILE: Zach Galin

The attainment of a law degree in the United States is bookended by two essential standardized tests. While work in the legal field depends on passing at least one bar exam, the whole journey starts with an important admissions test. Amy and Mike invited educator David Lynch to explain all about the LSAT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the LSAT? What kinds of schools or programs use the LSAT for admissions? When should students prepare for and take the LSAT? What should test takers know about the computer-based format of the LSAT? Will the GRE dethrone the LSAT? MEET OUR GUEST David Lynch is the founder of StudyLark Test Prep. He has been working with students worldwide since 1999 on the LSAT, SAT, ACT, GMAT, and GRE tests, and he’s taught Chemistry and English as a Second Language. Dave is the author of the StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language as well as several other books on the LSAT and other standardized tests. He works with test preparation shops large and small to create high-quality custom teaching materials, and he has served as technical editor for study guides by nationally recognized brands. StudyLark provides individual tutoring for college and graduate school admissions. You can earn more about Dave and her background, experience, and practice in his TEST PREP PROFILE from episode #173. Find Dave at studylark.com or info@studylark.com. LINKS About the LSAT RELATED EPISODES GETTING READY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL ALL ABOUT THE GRE THE INNER GAME OF TESTING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

286. ALL ABOUT THE LSAT

The odds that any individual college applicant will accept, enroll, and persist to graduation may not mean much to a given institution, but those same numbers for the entire applicant pool mean everything. No wonder schools track every applicant interaction so carefully! Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Matthew Herr to clarify how much colleges really know about applicants. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the purpose of an enrollment management CRM like Slate? How much does a school really know about its applicants? How is this data beneficial to the student and to the school? What differentiates this accumulated information from "demonstrated interest"? What should students do to display strong digital demonstrated interest? MEET OUR GUEST Matt Herr currently serves as the Integrations Manager and Senior Slate Strategist at Underscore, a Carnegie Company.  Before joining the Underscore team, he spent 14 years progressing through the ranks in Enrollment Management at various institutions; both small-private, as well as highly selective: in numerous roles including Senior Director of Admissions, Director of Enrollment Data Management, Director of Transfer Admissions, and Assistant Director of Financial Aid.   Matt has a passion for helping institutions meet enrollment goals, while providing a student-centric approach to enrollment.  His experience and passion combine in his current role to help schools implement and enhance their Slate instances to meet the needs of a continuously changing higher education landscape.  Find Matt at https://www.underscorehighered.com/. LINKS https://technolutions.com/solutions/slate https://slate.org/ RELATED EPISODES TRANSPARENCY IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DO COLLEGES CARE ABOUT THEIR APPLICANTS? YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH: SECRETS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

285. WHAT DO COLLEGES KNOW ABOUT APPLICANTS?

Curriculum, structure, and delivery of educational services like academic tutoring and test prep tend to vary widely. So why is there so little diversity in the way clients pay for these services?  Amy and Mike invited educator Dave Crystal to discuss educational services pricing models. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the traditional pricing models for educational services? Where do these models fall short? What are some alternative test prep pricing models? What are the advantages and disadvantages of alternative models? What new opportunities in alternative business models do you foresee over the next few years? MEET OUR GUEST Dave Crystal is a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received Honors in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. The author of one book and many published essays and op-ed pieces, he was a columnist for the Daily Pennsylvanian and a contributor to Penn’s prestigious journal of political science, Sound Politicks.  Dave founded Crystal Clear Tutors in 2008 when he noticed that there was a tremendous void in the test-prep industry in south Florida. Since then, Crystal Clear Tutors has helped get over 400 students into top-100 universities and over 250 students into top-40 universities, including all Ivy League schools.  Dave’s prior professional history includes being an investment manager research analyst for Merrill Lynch; a licensed financial advisor; and the President of 3rd Channel, an e-commerce solutions company. He has also lectured at many fine institutions including Books & Books, NYU, and Penn. Dave also has an MBA from the University of Miami. Additionally, he has been the subject of articles in Front Page Magazine, The Jerusalem Post, Philadelphia Weekly, The Forward, The Miami Herald and The Jewish Exponent. Find Dave at 888-981-PREP. LINKS Tutor Pricing Strategies: PREMIUM RELATED EPISODES HOW TEST PREP TUTORING SHOULD WORK ESSENTIALS OF CLIENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION HOW TEST PREP PROS AND FINANCIAL PLANNERS CAN WORK TOGETHER ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

284. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PRICING MODELS

Welcome to THE college admissions industry podcast! Join Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley as they discuss the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning, and education with leading experts. Tests and the Rest is perfect for school counselors, educators, test prep professionals, college consultants, and just about anyone engaged in the college admissions process. You can subscribe to this podcast or stream it online via any podcast app, including iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. Between the two of us, expect over 50 years of industry insight, expertise, insider news, and a bit of sarcasm.

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Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast

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